Byram Hills (N.Y.) pitcher Frankie Vesuvio was a star in the New York State Class A semifinals and final (Photo: LoHud.com)
Byram Hills High won its first New York State baseball title in school history and Frankie Vesuvio was a big reason why.
Vesuvio threw eight innings (the first five without allowing a hit) in a 4-3 semifinal win against Division Avenue. Then in the championship game against Queensbury, he started the scoring with a third-inning RBI double, followed by an acrobatic catch in center to end a 3-2 victory as Bryam Hills won the Class A title.
His catch came in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded.
“It was our goal from the start; this group of guys, we’ve been working hard for all of our lives,” Vesuvio told Gannett partner LoHud.com. “It’s great to finally get something.”
For his efforts, he leads the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week. The rest of the top performances:
Meghan Moran, softball, St. Peter-Marian, Worcester, Mass.
In what was a pitchers’ duel in a Massachussets Division I state semifinal, Moran led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice, the first time a runner had reached third in the game. She later scored on a wild pitch to give the Guardians a 1-0 victory over Agawam. St. Peter-Marian moves to 24-0 and plays for the state title Saturday.
Alex Narvaez, boy’s lacrosse, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
The Cape Elizabeth goalie posted nine second-half saves in a 12-4 win in the Western Class B final against Falmouth. In the regular season finale between the teams, Falmouth scored nine second-half goals in an 11-9 win, but in the rematch Falmouth didn’t score for the final 26 minutes of the game as Cape advanced to the state final.
Olivia Shapiro, girl’s lacrosse, Longmeadow, Mass.
The junior assisted on a game-tying goal in regulation and another in overtime in the state championship game against Westwood. Then, she scored the game-winner in the golden goal double OT with 1:07 remaining to send Longmeadow to its first state championship since 2004, beating Westwood for the first time since the 2009 regular season in the process.
Terrance Ferguson, boy’s basketball, Dallas
It seemed like a given that the Class of 2016’s top three prospects would make the Team USA U19 team. Wesleyan Christian’s Harry Giles, Chaminade Prep’s Jayson Tatum and Prolific Prep’s Josh Jackson would be standouts at any level but Ferguson – the No. 14 prospect in the class, according to ESPN’s newest rankings – survived two rounds of cuts after training camp at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Eric Monroe, football, Houston
LSU landed a verbal commitment from Monroe, a four-star recruit ranked No. 83 in ESPN’s Class of 2016 rankings. He is the third-highest rated safety in the class and is among several talented defensive backs woh already have committed to the Tigers.
Juliette Chang-Fane, weightlifting, Merritt Island, Fla.
The 15-year-old set the national youth weightlifting record when she posted a 175-pound effort in the clean and jerk. She’s only been training seriously for nine months and could be in play for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Brent Hebert, baseball, Cypress Ranch, Texas
With a clutch pitching performance, Hebert led Cy Ranch to the state 6A baseball title with a 3-0 shutout of Arlington Martin. Hebert allowed five hits over five innings and struck out two, but did not allow a runner to reach past second base. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.